Bible: 2 Samuel 13-19

The Rape of Tamar

13:1Now David’ssonAbsalomhad a beautifulsisternamedTamar. In the course of time David’ssonAmnonfell madly in lovewith her.113:2But Amnonbecame frustratedbecause he was so lovesick2over his sisterTamar. Forshe was a virgin, and to Amnonit seemedout of the questionto doanythingto her.

13:6So Amnonlaydown and pretended to be sick. When the kingcamein to seehim, Amnonsaidtothe king, “Pleaselet mysisterTamarcomein soshe can make a coupleof cakesin my sight. Then Iwill eat from herhand.”

13:10Then Amnonsaidto Tamar, “Bringthe cakesinto the bedroom; then I will eatfrom your hand.” So Tamartookthe cakesthatshe had preparedand broughtthem to her brotherAmnonin the bedroom.13:11As she broughtthem tohim to eat, he grabbedher and saidto her, “Comeon! Get in bedwithme,10 my sister!”

13:16But she saidto him, “NoI won’t, for sendingme awaynow would be worsethan what you didto me earlier!”17 But he refusedto listento her.13:17He calledhis personalattendantand saidto him, “Takethiswoman outof my sight18 and lockthe doorbehindher!”13:18(Now she was wearing a longrobe,19forthisis what the king’svirgindaughtersused to wear.) So Amnon’s20 attendantremovedher and boltedthe door21behindher.13:19ThenTamarput ashesonher headand torethe longrobeshe was wearing. She puther handsonher headand wenton her way, wailingas she went.

13:34In the meantime Absalomfled. When the servantwho was the watchmanlooked up, he sawmanypeoplecomingfrom the west35 on a roadbesidethe hill.13:35Jonadabsaidtothe king, “Look! The king’ssonshave come! It’s justas Isaid!”

14:4So the Tekoanwomanwent45 tothe king. She bowed downwith her faceto the groundin deferenceto himand said, “Please helpme,46 O king!”14:5The kingrepliedto her, “Whatdo you want?”47 She answered, “I ama widow; my husbandis dead.14:6Your servant48has twosons. When the twoof them got into a fightin the field, there was noone present who could intervene. Oneof them struckthe otherand killedhim.14:7Nowthe entirefamilyhas risen upagainstyour servant, saying, ‘Turn overtheone who struck downhis brother, so that we can executehim and avenge the death49 of his brotherwhomhe killed. In so doing we will alsodestroytheheir.’ They want to extinguishmy remainingcoal,50leavingno oneonthe faceof the earthto carryon the nameof my husband.”

14:23So Joabgot upand wentto Geshurand broughtAbsalomback to Jerusalem.6814:24But the kingsaid, “Let him go over69tohis own house. He may notseemy face.” So Absalomwent over70tohis own house; he did notseethe king’sface.

14:25Now in allIsraeleveryone acknowledgedthat there wasnomanas handsomeas Absalom.71From the soleof his feettothe top ofhis headhe wasperfectin appearance.7214:26When he would shavehis head– at the endof every yearhe used to shavehis head, forit grew too long73and he would shave it – he used to weigh the hair of his head at three pounds74 according to the king’s weight.14:27Absalomhad75threesonsand onedaughter, whose namewas Tamar. Shewasa very attractivewoman.76

14:28Absalomlivedin Jerusalemfor two yearswithoutseeingthe king’sface.14:29Then Absalomsenta message toJoabasking him tosendhim tothe king, but Joab was notwillingto cometohim. So he senta secondmessage to him, but he stillwas notwillingto come.14:30So he saidtohis servants, “Look, Joabhas a portionof field adjacentto mine and he has somebarleythere. Goand setit on fire.”77So Absalom’sservantssetJoab’s78 portionof the field on fire.

14:33So Joabwenttothe kingand informedhim. The king80 summonedAbsalom, and he cametothe king. Absalom81bowed downbeforethe kingwith his facetoward the groundand the kingkissedhim.82

Absalom Leads an Insurrection against David

15:1Some timelaterAbsalommanaged to acquire83 a chariotand horses, as well as fiftymento serve as his royal guard.8415:2Now Absalomused to get up earlyand standbesidethe roadthat led to the city gate. Wheneveranyonecameby who hada complaintto bringtothe kingfor arbitration, Absalomwould callout tohim, “Whatcityare youfrom?” The person would answer, “I, your servant,85am from oneof the tribesof Israel.”15:3Absalomwould then saytohim, “Look, your claims are legitimateand appropriate.86But there is norepresentativeof the kingwho will listento you.”15:4Absalomwould then say, “If onlythey would makeme87 a judgein the land! Then everyonewhohada judicialcomplaint88could cometome and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.”

15:10Then Absalomsentspiesthrough allthe tribesof Israelwho said, “When you hearthe soundof the horn, you may assume96 that Absalomrulesin Hebron.”15:11Now two hundredmenhad gone withAbsalomfrom Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they wentnaivelyand were unawareof what Absalom was planning.9715:12While he was offeringsacrifices, Absalomsentfor Ahithophelthe Gilonite, David’sadviser,98to comefrom his city, Giloh.99The conspiracywas gaining momentum, and the peoplewere starting to sidewithAbsalom.

15:25Then the kingsaidto Zadok, “Take thearkof Godback to the city. IfI findfavorin the Lord’ssighthe will bring me backand enable me to seeboth it and his dwellingplace again.15:26However, ifhe shouldsay, ‘Ido nottake pleasurein you,’ then he will deal with me in a way thathe considersappropriate.”127

15:30As Davidwas going upthe Mountof Olives, he was weepingas he went; his headwas coveredand his feet were bare. Allthe peoplewhowere withhim also had their headscoveredand were weepingas they wentup.15:31Now David131had been told, “Ahithophelhas sided with the conspiratorswho are withAbsalom. So Davidprayed,132 “Make the adviceof Ahithophelfoolish, O Lord!”

15:37So David’sfriendHushaiarrivedin the city, just as Absalomwas enteringJerusalem.

David Receives Gifts from Ziba

16:1WhenDavidhad gonea shortway beyond the summit, Zibathe servantof Mephiboshethwas there to meethim. He had a coupleof donkeysthat were saddled, and onthem were two hundredloaves of bread, a hundredraisin cakes, a hundredbaskets of summer fruit,137and a containerof wine.

The Death of Ahithophel

17:1AhithophelsaidtoAbsalom, “Let me pickout twelvethousandmen. ThenI will goand pursueDavidthis very night.17:2When I catch upwith165 him hewill be exhaustedand wornout.166 I will routhim, and the entirearmythatis withhim will flee. I will killonlythe king17:3and will bringthe entirearmybacktoyou. In exchange for the life of the manyouare seeking, you will get back everyone.167The entirearmywillreturn unharmed.”168

17:4This seemedlike a good ideato Absalomand to allthe leaders169of Israel.17:5But Absalomsaid, “Callfor170 Hushaithe Arkite, and let’s hearwhathe has to say.”17117:6So HushaicametoAbsalom. Absalomsaidtohim, “Hereis whatAhithophelhas advised. Should we followhis advice? Ifnot, what would yourecommend?”

17:7HushairepliedtoAbsalom, “Ahithophel’sadviceis notsound thistime.”17217:8Hushaiwent on to say, “Youknowyour fatherand his men– they are soldiersand are as dangerousas a bearout in the wildthat has been robbed of her cubs.173Your fatheris an experiencedsoldier; he will notstay overnightwiththe army.17:9At thisvery momenthe ishidingout in oneof the cavesorin some othersimilarplace. If it should turn out that he attacks our troopsfirst,174whoever hearsaboutit will say, ‘Absalom’sarmyhasbeenslaughtered!’17:10If thathappens eventhe bravest soldier– one whois lion-hearted– will virtuallymelt away. ForallIsraelknowsthatyour fatheris a warriorand that those whoare withhim are brave.17:11My advicethereforeis this: Let allIsraelfromDantoBeer Sheba– in numberlikethe sandbythe sea! – be mustered to you, and you lead them personally into battle.17:12We willcomeagainsthimwhereverhe happens to be found. We will descendonhim like the dewfallsonthe ground. Neither he noranyof the menwho are with him will be spared alive – not one of them!17:13Ifhe regroupsina city, allIsraelwill take upropestothat cityand dragit downtothe valley, so thatnota single pebblewill be leftthere!”

17:17Now Jonathanand Ahimaazwere stayingin En Rogel. A female servantwould goand informthem, and theywould then goand informKingDavid. It was notadvisablefor them to be seengoinginto the city.17:18But a young mansawthem on one occasion and informedAbsalom. So the twoof them quicklydepartedand wenttothe houseof a manin Bahurim. There was a wellin his courtyard, and they got downin it.17:19His wifethen tookthe coveringand spreadit overthe top of the welland scatteredsome grainoverit. Noone was awareof whatshe had done.

18:3But the soldiersreplied,193 “You should notdo this!194 Forifwe should have tomakea rapidretreat, they won’t betoo concernedabout us.195 Even ifhalfof usshoulddie, they won’tbe too concernedabout us. But you196 are liketenthousandof us! So it is betterifyou remain in the cityfor support.”18:4Then the kingsaidto them, “I will do whateverseemsbestto you.”

Sothe kingstayedbesidethe city gate, while allthe armymarchedout by hundredsand by thousands. 18:5The kinggave this orderto Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake deal gentlywith the young manAbsalom.” Now the entirearmywas listeningwhen the kinggaveallthe leadersthis orderconcerningAbsalom.

18:6Then the armymarchedout to the fieldto fightagainst Israel. The battletook place in the forestof Ephraim.18:7The armyof Israelwas defeatedthereby David’smen.197 The slaughter therewas greatthat day– 20,000soldierswere killed.18:8The battletherewas spreadout overthe wholearea, and the forestconsumedmoresoldiersthan the sworddevouredthat day.

18:9Then Absalomhappenedto come acrossDavid’smen. Now as Absalomwas ridingonhis198 mule, it199wentunderthe branchesof a largeoak tree. His headgot caught in the oakand he was suspendedinmidair,200while the mulehe hadbeen riding kept going.

18:10When one201of the mensawthis, he reportedit to Joabsaying, “IsawAbsalomhangingin an oak tree.18:11Joabrepliedto the manwho was tellinghim this, “What! You sawthis? Whydidn’tyou strikehim downright onthe spot?202 I would have givenyou tenpieces of silver203and a commemorative belt!”204

18:12The manrepliedtoJoab, “Even if205Iwere receiving206a thousandpieces of silver,207I would notstrike208the king’sson! In our very presence209the kinggave this orderto you and Abishaiand Ittai, ‘Protectthe young manAbsalomfor my sake.’21018:13IfI had actedat riskof my own life211 – and nothingis hiddenfromthe king! – you would have abandoned me.”212

18:14Joabreplied, “I will notwaitaround like thisfor you!” He tookthreespearsin his handand thrustthem into the middleof Absalomwhile he was stillalivein the middleof the oak tree.21318:15Thentensoldierswho were Joab’sarmorbearersstruckAbsalomand finished himoff.

18:16ThenJoabblewthe trumpet214and the armyturned backfrom chasingIsrael, forJoabhad called for the armyto halt.18:17They tookAbsalom, threwhim into a largepitin the forest, and stacked a huge pileof stonesoverhim. In the meantimeallthe Israelitesoldiersfledto their homes.215

18:18Prior to this216 Absalomhad set upa monument217and dedicated it to himself in theKing’sValley, reasoning“I have nosonwho will carry onmy name.” Henamedthe monumentafter himself, and to thisdayit is knownas Absalom’sMemorial.

18:21Then Joabsaidto the Cushite, “Goand tellthe kingwhatyou have seen.” After bowingto Joab, the Cushiteranoff.18:22Ahimaazthe sonof ZadokagainspoketoJoab, “Whateverhappens, letmego afterthe Cushite.” But Joabsaid, “Whyisit that youwantto go, my son? You have nogood newsthat will bring you a reward.”18:23Buthe said,220 “Whateverhappens, I want to go!” So Joab221 saidto him, “Thengo!” So Ahimaazranby the wayofthe Jordan plain, and he passedtheCushite.

18:24Now Davidwas sittingbetweenthe inner and outer gates,222and the watchmanwentup tothe roofover the gateat the wall. When he looked, he sawa manrunningby himself.18:25So the watchmancalledout and informedthe king. The kingsaid, “Ifhe is by himself, he brings good news.”223The runner224came ever closer.

18:26Then the watchmansawanothermanrunning. The watchmancalledout tothe gatekeeper, “Thereis another manrunningby himself.” The kingsaid, “Thisone alsois bringing good news.”18:27The watchmansaid, “It appearsto me that the firstrunneris Ahimaaz225sonof Zadok.” The kingsaid, “He is a goodman, and he comeswith goodnews.”

18:28Then Ahimaazcalledout and saidtothe king, “Greetings!”226 He boweddown before the kingwith his facetoward the groundand said, “May the Lordyour Godbe praisedbecausehe has defeated227themenwhoopposed228my lordthe king!”

18:29The kingreplied, “Howis the young manAbsalom?” Ahimaazreplied, “I sawa greatdeal of confusionwhenJoabwas sendingthe king’sservantand me, your servant, but I don’t knowwhatit was all about.”18:30The kingsaid, “Turnasideand takeyour place here.” So he turnedaside and waited.

Now the people of Judah253had cometo Gilgalto meetthe kingand to helphim254 crosstheJordan.19:16Shimeisonof Gerathe Benjaminitefrom Bahurimcame downquicklywiththe menof Judahto meetKingDavid.19:17There were a thousandmenfrom Benjaminwith him, along withZibathe servant255of Saul’shousehold, and with himhis fifteensonsand twentyservants. They hurriedlycrossed256 the Jordanwithin sightof the king.19:18They crossedat the fordin order to help theking’shouseholdcrossand to dowhateverhe thought appropriate.

19:21Abishaisonof Zeruiahreplied, “Forthisshould notShimeibe put to death? After all, he cursedthe Lord’sanointed!”19:22But Davidsaid, “Whatdo we have in common,260 you sonsof Zeruiah? You are like my enemytoday! Should anyonebe put to deathin Israeltoday? Don’tyou realizethattodayIam kingoverIsrael?”19:23The kingsaidtoShimei, “You won’tdie.” The kingvowed an oath261concerning this.

19:31Now when Barzillaithe Gileaditehad come downfrom Rogelim, he crossedthe Jordanwiththe kingso he could sendhim on his way from there.27619:32But Barzillaiwas veryold– eightyyears old, in fact – and he had taken care of the king when he stayed in Mahanaim, for he was a very rich277 man.19:33So the kingsaidtoBarzillai, “Crossover withme, and Iwill take careof you while you arewith mein Jerusalem.”

19:38The kingreplied, “Kimhamwill cross overwithme, and Iwill dofor him whatever I deemappropriate. And whateveryou choose, I will dofor you.”

19:39So allthe peoplecrossedthe Jordan, as did the king. After the kinghad kissedhim and blessedhim, Barzillaireturnedto his home.28219:40When the kingcrossedover to Gilgal, Kimham283crossedover withhim. Now allthe soldiers284of Judahalong with halfof the soldiersof Israelhad helped the kingcrossover.285

19:41Thenallthe menof Israelbegan comingtothe king. They askedthe king, “Whydid our brothers, the menof Judah, sneakthe king awayand help thekingand his householdcrosstheJordan– and not only him but allof David’smenas well?”

19:42Allthe menof Judahrepliedto the menof Israel, “Becausethe kingis our close relative! Whyare you so upsetabout this? Have we eatenat the king’sexpense?286 Orhave we misappropriated anythingfor our own use?”19:43The menof Israelrepliedto themenof Judah, “We have tensharesin the king, and we have a greaterclaimon Davidthanyou do! Whydo you want287 to curseus? Weren’twe thefirstto suggest bringing backour king?” But the commentsof the menof Judahweremore severethan those of themenof Israel.